Indigestion

I read an article some time ago by a leading specialist in this field, and he said that there is not enough investigation into this as the drug companies have hijacked it.

Also if you sleep on your left the stomach is in a better position than when you are on your right That probably explains why, when I turn onto my left side in bed after reading for ages on my right side, I give a long, loud burp in DH's ear.
there's nice for you!
We would probably be better having our main meal in the middle of the day.

Eating two or three apples could help, but even if they don't it's not going to harm you whereas taking a drug or supplement that someone suggests could have an adverse effect.

Omeprazole and lanzaprozole are both PPI, so similar drugs surely? I was prescribed Omeprazole but, having read up on the side effects, decided not to take it. It was prescribed to line my stomach when I had to take anti-inflammatories. I stopped the anti-inflammatories in the main too although I may have to ask for them again. The GP said he took Omeprazole and gave it to all his family when they went on holiday to stop them getting bad tummies

Elegran do you have stairs - you could go mountaineering up them with your Alphine poles.

It doesn't sound as though the 24 hour monitoring system would be much good for LPR sufferers.

The fact that it's 'silent' reflux means we don't know when the acid is refluxing, so the button would be redundant!

Tricia I was interested In the fact that you are able to eat bread/toast - I find that sets me off - I love toast but rarely eat any at all. Gradually I am finding things I totally avoid if possible and ones I can have in small doses. Some people I know find taking digestive enzymes about meal times helpful as there is a theory it seems that as we age under production of acid is also a cause of reflux. I found it made little difference so don't take them regularly although if I am having a bad patch I take them just for a couple if days and it seems to help.
Does anyone think meds taken for other conditions cause or aggravate this? I have just wondered as some of the large tablet type pills at times make me feel nauseous.
I have been told to raise the head of the bed (by a couple of inches at the most) should help - however I dare not give my source for this advice!

Polly. Thanks for that.
Ana. That's exactly what I'm thinking.

Oh, they tell you that all over the place WW. The real medical people say it's useless though. (Raising bed head)

I sent for some Slippery Elm food. It came from America via Amazon. It looks horrible and I haven't dared to try it.nthere are no instructions either. I have wasted so much money trying to remedy this condition.

Toast makes me cough. Irritates my hero at.

jingl I have bitten the bullet and am booked in for an endoscopy in March. Getting desperate now...

SlipperyElm Food used to be freely available during/after the war - my father had it regularly as he suffered with forms of indigestion - barium meal X-rays etc. it culminated in a burst ulcer which was then treated with Cimetidine till he died some twenty years later - seemed to do the trick and was prescribed and monitored by proper doctors at the hospital!

Ana I had an endoscopy a few years ago and although I have a dreadful gag reflex it was not half as bad as I imagined - the people doing it were lovely but I did not take them up on the offer of watching what was happening on the screen! . in my case nothing was found and the consultant said just to watch what I ate and make a note of things to avoid. He gave me a few pointers of things which often did cause people a problem but that was all. This was in a proper hospital in the UK with proper doctors.

The probe monitors the acid reflux and pressing the button just tells them when you have symptoms. The acid is still recorded even if you don't feel it.

Yes, that's more or less what I'm expecting, Welshwife (apart from dreading that they might find something terrible, of course...)

It does seem to be a case of trial and error, and like petra, nothing my GP has prescribed has worked. I was getting by OK-ish just using the Gaviscon Advance after meals and at bedtime, but then it suddenly seemed to make the problem worse, coughing and sneezing etc. so now I'm not taking anything.

I had an endoscopy before Christmas. I have an awful gag reflex, sick at the drop of a hat, but was persuaded to go for the throat spray. It worked a dream. Not a pleasant experience but if you practice your childbirth breathing to relax it helps!!

It showed a small hiatus hernia. The doc said at least a third of people over 65 have hiatus hernias! I was prescribed Lanzaprozole but it really had no effect so I don't take it. What does work is five small meals a day instead of three. The grazing diet. Suits me fine! (Still endeavour to do my two 'starve' days)

Ana brave girl. I am such a cowardy custard. As WW says, it probably sounds worse than it is. Good luck, not that you'll need it.

I've had two endoscopies. My advice to anyone having one is to have the throat spray and as much sedation as possible. The problem is, you don't know how it's going to go until you're on the table. At least with plenty of sedation you don't care.

I had an endoscopy a couple of years ago and although I wouldn't want one every week it wasn't as bad as the fear of it was. I did opt for a sedative though. The worst part although no- one else has mentioned it is the noise one makes when the air they are pumping in comes back up which cannot be delicately described as burping. It is horrendous. I was diagnosed with a large hiatus hernia.

I've already decided on that, pollyparrot, which is why I've asked DD to take me - don't want to worry about driving home afterwards!

Thanks, annsixty, hadn't heard about that but it's worth knowing in advance!

Ana You'll be fine then. I hope everything goes ok and the results are just something and nothing. Mine showed a hiatus hernia and some oesophagitis.

An endoscopy is best performed before long term treatment is started, once ppi treatment is started the signs and symptoms lessen and make diagnosis more difficult.

annsixty what did they do about your hiatus hernia? If you don't mind me asking. (Ignore if you do)

I had mine done with just the throat spray - tasted a bit like banana - that was sufficient for me - esp as they told me that with that I would be able to have a normal afternoon, whereas if I had the stronger dose I would need to go to bed for the rest of the day.

I have lost a lot of wieght which concerns me. Never had indegestion in my life until a year ago. Nothing sms to work thought I washaving heart attack last week it was o painful

Have you changed your diet because of this indigestion? Or maybe eating a lot less - I hope you get it all sorted soon.

Thanks welshwife think maybe the worry accounts for weight loss. I hope it gets sorted soon but as I say had endoscopy ultrasound and chest xray and still no answer. Doctors thinking of sending me for another endoscopy

Up until a year ago I was getting regular and worsening heartburn/indigestion. I changed my diet, cutting out one particular food, and, apart from a relapse at Christmas (and a reoccurance of symptoms) I don't have problems these days.